6
Serious question, has anyone else switched from a standard torque wrench to a digital one for head bolts?
I did a head gasket on a 6.7 Powerstroke last month and used my old clicker wrench. The job felt fine, but it started weeping coolant after 200 miles. My buddy lent me his digital Snap-on wrench for the redo, and the difference was crazy. The clicker was off by almost 15 foot-pounds on the high end, which explains the weep. I'm saving up for a digital one now. Anyone have a good brand that won't break the bank?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
wells.brooke2mo ago
That "off by almost 15 foot-pounds" part is a real eye opener. I saw a forum post where a guy had the same issue with his old clicker on lug nuts. Makes you want to check your tools more often.
2
julia_burns92mo ago
How old was his clicker when it went bad?
3
danielwhite1mo ago
The age question from @julia_burns9 is key here, but the thing nobody's talking about is how the torque wrench was stored. A clicker left in a damp toolbox or tossed around in a truck bed can drift way faster than most people realize. Calibration is one thing, but just getting it smacked against a metal floor can throw the internal spring out of whack. I watched a buddy's old Husky clicker read 95 pounds when it should have been 80 after a drop like that.
2